Bill mandating North Carolina colleges to take US studies class to graduate approved by state House

The North Carolina House has approved a bill requiring state college students to take a U.S. history or government class in order to graduate.

Bill sponsors told an education committee on Thursday that a required higher education class would go into more depth and help address what they consider a lack of knowledge about the country's government and essentials.

"If we do not teach our children what this country is, what it was, its imperfections, its advances ... we will not continue as a country," said Rep. Keith Kidwell, a Beaufort County Republican, said before a voice vote to recommend (the measure setting the three credit-hour requirement.